Is the RDA still relevant? A financial burden?
In fact, information reaching Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) news centre is that the agency is on a financial lifeline and there are now serious discussions on the future of the controversial entity.
Leaked letter: $$ approved with conditions
In a leaked letter, dated April 21, 2020, to the RDA Board, penned by the United Kingdom appointed Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka 'Gus', he stated he had approved $600 000 for the first two quarters of the financial year, noting that he was only able to confirm funding for the first two quarters to give the UK and the Virgin Islands the time “to determine an effective response to the global crisis and how this impacts the Territory.”
Mr Jaspert, a big fan of the Agency, said in his letter to board member Clarence M. Faulkner Jr that he was of the view the RDA has a lot to offer the Territory both in the on-going recovery and development and in the future as it responds to the impacts of COVID-19.
Governor Jaspert reminded the RDA Board; however, that the UK’s contributions to the RDA’s operational costs are provided from the £10m granted to the VI by the UK to support the long-term recovery and development of the Territory.
To this end, he said approval of the $600 000 for Q1/Q2 of the financial year 2020/2021 is contingent upon a number of factors, which he outlined.
‘Financial burden’ final year of UK funding
“This [factors] is of course also subject to review should the policy position of the Government of the Virgin Islands change in relation to the RDA. I am aware from the Premier that discussions are on-going.”
Governor Jaspert, in the leaked letter obtained by our newsroom, reminded the RDA Board that this is the final year of proposed UK funding to the RDA, after which the operational costs of the RDA will be for the Government of the Virgin Islands to meet.
“I am sure you will be taking forward conversations with the Minister of Finance and the Financial Secretary to determine how this will be achieved,” Governor Jaspert stated.
Most social commentators believe; however, the work of the RDA can now be transferred to a ministry as they are of the opinion the agency is now actually “useless” and an additional financial burden on Government.
Bayly a failure gone!
Recently, its first CEO, New Zealander Mr Paul D. Bayly tendered his resignation amidst heavy criticism he was not living up to his $300,000 plus a year salary, a pay package that had even surpassed that of the Premier and Minister of Finance, the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) and even Mr Bayly’s former boss the Chairman of the RDA Board, Dr Robert A. Mathavious.
It was during the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on December 13, 2019, that senior legislator and Opposition Member, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) remarked that the then RDA CEO Mr Bayly was earning big bucks to manage people who collect garbage around the Virgin Islands.
Super salary CEO but nothing to show
As RDA CEO, Mr Bayly, who resigned in January 2020, had a $25,000 per month contract that amounted to $300,000 per year, with an additional allowance of $8,333.34, along with a round trip ticket to New Zealand for him and his family.
“You telling me that we brought in a CEO and paying over $300,000 a year to run an operation to pick-up garbage from around the Territory? That’s what they did; they had some trucks out there to pick-up garbage from around the Territory,” Hon Fraser had stated during fierce criticisms of Mr Bayly and the RDA.
It should be noted that Mr Bayly’s interim replacement- Mr Anthony S. McMaster- is not making close to the $300,000 plus earned by the former CEO.
Many persons have dubbed it as double standard and racist, as both persons were former Permanent Secretaries, and have more or less the same experience.
Preferential wages for UK expats
In addition to his unjustified salary, there were criticisms that Mr Bayley had stacked the agency with many United Kingdom nationals who were reportedly being paid fat salaries.
It is our understanding that Mr Bayly had refused to supply the salaries information of the persons he hired to the House of Assembly (HoA). He also reportedly claimed the skill-set could not be found in the Territory, which is why he had to hire expats.
Hon Fraser had also raised the issue in the HoA about the seemingly lack of preference towards hiring Virgin Islanders, something he had said was disturbing.
Local staff felt disrespected, threatened
It was also reported that Mr Bayly was unpopular amongst his staff and last year he asked employees to anonymously put their issues/suggestions in a box in the reception area of the RDA.
His Human Resources Manager then compiled a summary and one of the issues consistent, according to persons familiar with the survey, was that local staff felt they were treated with disrespect by the expat British staff.
In a meeting with his staff, Mr Bayly reportedly offered an apology on some issues, but stayed clear on others, according to information obtained by our newsroom.
Information reaching our newsroom is that some of the staff as recent as mid-April 2020 was threatened with being fired, if information continued to be leaked, including to the media.
The RDA; however, continues to receive the support of Governor Jaspert, a good friend of Mr Bayly, despite his failure at the agency.
One of Mr Bayly’s mandate was to help raise money for the Virgin Islands Recovery Programme after the devastation in 2017 by hurricanes Irma and Maria; however, it is believed that was not achieved and he was only allegedly able to raise “a few thousand here and there,” according to an RDA Board Member speaking to our news centre on condition of anonymity back in mid-March 2020.
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25 Responses to “Is the RDA still relevant? A financial burden?”
Of couse gus will suport the rda...the former head was w****
You talking ‘bout close to. Is he making at least 25% (i,e. $75,000) of that figure?
"Governor Jaspert, in the leaked letter obtained by our newsroom, reminded the RDA Board that this is the final year of proposed UK funding to the RDA, after which the operational costs of the RDA will be for the Government of the Virgin Islands to meet."
This is one time I will march downtown. Not on your life are we the taxpayers of the Virgin Islands prepared to take on this financial burden. If UK don't want to subsidize, then dismantle the dynasty. Not much locals up there anyways.
Hon Fraser had also raised the issue in the HoA about the seemingly lack of preference towards hiring Virgin Islanders, something he had said was disturbing.
Short of that is xenophobia